Sports professionals have used Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) shots to help restore soft tissue damage or heal joints. This treatment is an approach to regenerative medicine that serves to help regrow and heal tissues. It’s used in multiple areas, from aesthetic treatments such as hair regrowth to non-invasive facelifts. Another area that it has been showing great promise is the realm of treating back pain. We’re going to explore this application and the results that have been shown in treating patients.
Is PRP The New Approach To Easing Back Pain?
The injection has been used to treat pain in the spine for many years. These injections contained steroids and other medications that help to ease pain from herniated or slipped discs. While these treatments were effective, there are concerns about lasting concerns with these treatments. Research into new treatments using more natural approaches has led to the use of PRP for back pain.
Platelet-Rich-Plasma is derived from the patient’s own blood. Blood is drawn, and the platelet is extracted and concentrated into a plasma solution. This is then injected at the point the patient needs pain relief. Since the substance is based on the patient’s own blood, there’s little risk of complications or side effects that can come with previous choices.
Platelets are one of the building blocks of blood. Within them are found chemicals known as growth factors that play a central role in the healing process. They are also the source of special proteins that stimulate the surrounding stem cells to address a wound. These two substances work together that helps generate new and healthy tissue in replacing damaged tissue.
The steps involved with a PRP treatment include the following:
- Blood is drawn from the patient, typically from the arm.
- Several elements of your blood are withdrawn to concentrate the platelets
- The concentrated platelets are added to plasma extracted from your blood
- This mixture is inserted into a syringe and injected at the target site
This final step is accomplished with the help of a special x-ray. This tool makes it possible to place the injection precisely where it can do the most good. Following the injection, you’ll typically experience some degree of soreness. Some patients will only feel this for a day or two after the treatment. Others have reported the soreness lasting at least a week.
Get Results With PRP Pain Treatments
PRP is not an instant fix process; relief takes some time to feel. This is because it works through natural processes to stimulate the body to heal. It has proven remarkably effective at addressing certain types of low back pain. Back pain from degenerative disc disease has shown to be responsive to this form of treatment. However, it isn’t effective for all types of low back pain. Reach out to your pain management specialist to get a consultation on your condition. They’ll put together a treatment plan and advise you on whether PRP can help produce results.
